Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
One of the smaller Williams-Selyem cuvees is the 266-case 2002 Pinot Noir Precious Mountain. One of the strongest efforts in this portfolio, it reveals some tightness/restraint on the aromatics, but with airing, considerable nuances develop. A dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by elegant raspberry, rose petal, strawberry, and scorched earth scents, and medium bodied flavors with tremendous elegance, purity, and depth.
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Wine Spectator
Wonderful balance and purity of flavor, with pretty scents of rose petal, blackberry, raspberry, fresh earth and a touch of nutmeg from oak. This wine combines elegance and finesse with ripe, vivid yet delicate flavors that caress on the finish.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.